Sport is a national passion in Britain. It binds us together, and is part of the lifeblood of urban and rural communities across our country. Participation in sport can also bring huge benefits – increasing physical fitness, combating anti-social behaviour, and improving academic attainment.

In the coming years, Britain will host a selection of the greatest international sporting events: a Golden Decade of Sport in Britain. Labour’s ambition is to use this historic opportunity to create a world class sports system with accessible, affordable and competitive opportunities for all.

We are supporting this ambition with record investment in schools, clubs and Sports National Governing Bodies (NGBs). Since 1997 we have provided a seven hundred per cent increase in public funding for sport, which combined with National Lottery funding represents an overall investment of £5.5 billion. As we reduce the deficit in the coming years, we will ensure greater efficiency and effectiveness in expenditure on sport, cutting bureaucracy and increasing Lottery investment in sport after 2012.